Police seek man who allegedly shot girlfriend with rifle

Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 2:11pm

Staff reports

Anthony Thomas

Metro detectives are looking for a convicted felon they believe may have shot his girlfriend early Thursday morning.

Anthony D. Thomas, 44, is wanted on charges of aggravated assault and unlawful gun possession by a felon after police said his girlfriend, 50-year-old Sheryl Miller, reported he pointed a .22-caliber rifle at her before it discharged.

Officers responded to the couple’s home at 104-B Neil Ave. around 12:45 a.m. According to police, Miller told them the two had been drinking when they got into an argument. That’s when, she said, Thomas grabbed the gun and pointed it at her.

Miller told police she believed the gun might have discharged by accident.

Police reported Thursday morning that Miller was in critical but stable condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Thomas fled the scene, taking the rifle with him, before police arrived. Thomas has been convicted for aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, felony theft and domestic assault, according to police.

Police urge anyone seeing Thomas, who is also known as Hakeem Bamani, to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.